ABUJA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Former Nigerian leader Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday called on African leaders to initiate periodic reforms in governance.
Speaking at a forum in the Nigerian capital city of Abuja, Obasanjo, a highly influential African leader, identified "security and stability, good governance, and poverty reduction" as three major areas in which Africa needs urgent reforms in order to boost relations with partners including China.
"In these three areas, we can examine what has been the achievements of China at home and what China promises in the immediate future for itself, its neighbors and its partners further afield like those of us in Africa,
"Africa can learn a lesson from China - of peace, security, and stability at home; as a foundation for other development at home before venturing afield," said the former Nigerian leader who was the keynote speaker at the forum.
"The fundamentals of peace, security, and stability are meeting the fundamental aspirations of the people: food, clothing, shelter, education, health, and employment," he said.
Obasanjo who was Nigeria's military ruler in 1976-1979, and later elected president in 1999-2007, said if China has made progress at home in the aforementioned areas, China can also share with Africa how to fish in those areas.
In that regards, he said appropriate request, followed by an appropriate response, will widen and deepen the relationship between China and Africa.
The former president said that China had improved in terms of peace and security, noting where such peace, security, and stability were lacking, there could never be progress.
Some African leaders, including Boni Yayi, former president of Benin Republic and former Nigerien president Mahamane Ousmane, attended the Abuja forum aimed at discussing a new era for China-Africa cooperation.
The forum also brought together development experts and intellectuals who engaged in full exchanging of ideas for Africa's stability and progress.
In the areas of poverty eradication, Obasanjo, also a former leader of the African Union, said China is a good example of poverty reduction efforts. He opined that the effect of poverty was telling on Africa and it must seek for a lasting solution.
"China has been hugely successful in poverty reduction efforts," he noted, adding "China has a lesson to teach any developing country who cares to learn."
He said poverty reduction should be the main focus of Africa's new-era relationship with China and called on African leaders to work hard on ensuring delivery of governance.
